Motorola Takes Wraps Off Xoom Android Tablet

Motorola Mobility today unveiled Xoom, first tablet PC that will run on Android 3.0, dubbed Honeycomb, and features a 10.1-inch display that will be larger than Apple's first-generation iPad.

CEO Sanjay Jha said Xoom will be available first as a 3G device sometime in the first quarter but will eventually be upgradeable to 4G "sometime in the second quarter." The Honeycomb mobile OS-powered device will also include a dual-core processor, front- and rear-facing cameras, 1280x800 resolution, supports Adobe Flash 10.1 and HD video recording functionality.

"It's an experience that will delight consumers," Jha told attendees at Motorola Mobility's (NYSE: MMI) first Consumer Electronics Show as a standalone company.

Last month, Motorola released a teaser ad mocking Apple's iPad as a tool as outdated as the Rosetta Stone and called it merely a "giant iPhone."

Jha pointed out that Xoom will be the first tablet PC built from the ground up on a mobile operating system that was developed solely for tablets.

Xoom was just one of four major product announcements from Motorola Mobility today.

The company also debuted the Atrix 4G, what company officials are calling the "world's most powerful smartphone." The device, which will be one of at least 20 new 4G devices available on AT&T's network this year, will initially be available on the HSPA+ network.

During a demo, the Atrix 4G was plugged into a docking station where it served as the engine for a laptop shell, essentially giving users the ability to use a mouse, a larger screen and access a full HTML browser -- rather than a mobile version -- as well as other full-featured applications. Powered by a dual-core processor and 1 GB of RAM, it's clear this device is intended to lure away enterprises that were quick to embrace the iPad.

"It's a monster," said Jeff Bradley, senior vice president of devices at AT&T's mobility and consumer markets group. "With the laptop dock station, it makes it a breakthrough for consumers and enterprises. You can get access to your entire office environment."

Pricing details for both the Xoom and Atrix 4G were not disclosed.

Motorola Mobility also showed off Cliq 2, the revised version of its popular T-Mobile device that now includes a 3.7-inch display, 1 GHz processor, a mobile 3G hotspot, enhanced security features culled from the Motorola Droid Pro and various consumer-friendly apps such as a Kindle app and Blockbuster On Demand.

Finally, the company announced Motorola Bionic, a 4G LTE (long-term evolution) smartphone that also features a dual-core processor, HDMI out, video chat, HD video and a 4.3-inch display.

Jha said Cliq 2 will be available on Jan. 19 and Bionic will be in consumers' hands sometime in "early second quarter."